men were in the military service (either Union or Confederate) during the civil war, and consequently were exposed to a higher rate of mortality during that period, it is estimated that on March 1, 1908, there will be surviving about 390 of those officers and men. This office has no data upon which any estimate of the number of the surviving widows of those men that would be at all reliable can be based. However, assuming that every one of them who has died left a widow who has not since remarried and also assuming that the widows were approximately ten years younger than their husbands, it is estimated that on March 1, 1908, there will be surviving approximately 400 widows entitled to the benefits of the bill under consideration. Very respectfully, Hon. HENRY C. LOUDENSLAGER, F. C. AINSWORTH, Chairman Committee on Pensions, House of Representatives. A full reprint of Executive Document No. 277 (H. R., 42d Cong., 2d sess.) appears in Executive Document No. 19 (45th Cong., 2d sess.) and gives a detailed narrative of the organization, operations, engagements, casualties, and achievements of these forces. It is deemed unnecessary to reproduce the same herein at length. The service of these veterans having been acknowledged by the Government in reimbursement of the State of Texas for their pay, and the uniform course of legislation having been to grant service pensions after the lapse of forty years from the war or disturbance on account of which pensions have been granted, and in appreciation of the inestimable value of their service and the perils, privations, and sufferings with which they were beset, all contained in history, your committee respectfully recommend the passage of the bill when amended as follows: In line 9, after "extended," insert "from the date of the passage of this act." In lines 10 and 11 strike out "participated" and insert "served." In line 4, page 2, strike out "who have died." O APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSION TO SELECT SITES FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN WASHINGTON, D. C. APRIL 9, 1908.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. HEYBURN, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following ADVERSE REPORT. [To accompany S. 5945.] The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to whom was referred the bill (S. 5945) to provide for the appointment of a commission to select sites for certain public buildings on lands owned by the Government in the city of Washington, and to procure and report to Congress preliminary plans and estimates of cost therefor, have investigated the proposition in the bill to surround what is known as the White House Lot with public buildings along the western side of Fifteenth street and along the eastern side of Seventeenth street, encroaching on the White House Lot and shutting off the unobstructed view from the White House both east and west from the parade ground, and do not believe that this ground should be occupied by buildings of any kind, but that it should be maintained as an open park, presenting an unobstructed view from the White House toward the Monument and the Potomac River. The committee therefore report adversely on the bill and recommend that it be indefinitely postponed. O Mr. CLAY, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 2734.] The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2734) to provide for the erection of a public building in the city of Milledgeville, Ga., having considered the same report back the bill, with amendments, with the recommendation that the bill do pass. After line 11 add the following: "The building to be erected shall be unexposed to danger from fire by an open space of at least forty feet on each side, including streets and alleys.' Also amend the title so as to read: "A bill to provide for the purchase of a site and the erection of a public building thereon in the city of Milledgeville, Georgia." Your committee herewith appends the report of the Secretary of the Treasury upon this bill. TREASURY DEpartment, SIR: Referring to your request for a report in connection with S. 2734, providing for a site and building at Milledgeville, Ga., for the use of the post-office, at a cost not to exceed $50,000, I have the honor to submit the following: There are no branches of the Federal service at Milledgeville, Ga., except the postoffice. It is estimated that a one-story building having 3,375 square feet floor space, which is the equivalent of a building 90 by 50 feet, will be sufficient, and that such a building of fireproof construction will cost $65,000, exclusive of site. A nonfireproof building of the same capacity will cost $60,000. It is estimated that a suitable site can be secured for $15,000 additional. The usual 40-foot fire limit and sufficient ground to provide for a possible 30-foot extension of the building hereafter are included in the estimate for the site. Assuming that future authorizations for the acquisition of sites and the erection of public buildings thereon will be made in omnibus public building bills, the Department deems it unnecessary to offer any criticism as to the form of the bill above referred to. PUBLIC BUILDING AT PLATTSMOUTH, NEBR. APRIL 9, 1908.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. BURKETT, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 1933.] The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to whom was referred the bill (S. 1933) to provide for the erection of a public building in the city of Plattsmouth, Nebr., having considered the same report it back with an amendment with the recommendation that the same do pass. In line 13 strike out "seventy-five" and insert in lieu thereof "fifty." Your committee herewith append the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on this bill. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, SIR: Referring to your request for a report in connection with S. 1933, providing for the erection of a public building at Plattsmouth, Nebr., for the use of the postoffice and other United States offices, at a cost not to exceed the sum of $75,000, I have the honor to submit the following: There are no branches of the Federal service at Plattsmouth except the postoffice. It is estimated that a one-story building having 3,000 square feet of floor space will be sufficient, and that such a building of fireproof construction will cost $60,000 exclusive of site. A nonfireproof building of the same capacity will cost $55,000. Respectfully, J. B. REYNOLDS, The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, |